Innocence

Xu Jingchen looked at Lin Meixing and noticed that she had softened her attitude. He was not so stupid as to think that she was suddenly starting to feel positive emotions for him, and he understood that her reason to move in was to protect her son and herself from his mother.

He knew that he could not rush it, but he was still hurt. When he saw the wish to distance herself from him in her eyes, there was nothing that Xu Jingchen wanted to do more than hug her close to his chest, and try to soothe all the negative emotions, but he knew that such movements would just cause her to increase her dislike for him.

Lin Meixing was very resistant towards living with Xu Jingchen, but she was even more worried about Lin Jingli's future.

Xu Jingchen's mother would not shy away from causing an 'accident' which would end her life, or harm her son. Even though they were related by blood, Madam Xu was not one to be bound by morals or laws.

Xu Jingchen had not known how horrible his mother was before he had heard the conversation between Lin Meixing and her, earlier at the restaurant door.

He knew that his mother was aloof and cold. He had a rather cold relationship with her, but she seemed to respect his wishes, and did not interfere with his life, so he also left her alone.

However, now that he knew that she had intentionally hidden Lin Meixing and Lin Jingli's existence from him, and had even tried to force Lin Meixing into aborting his son, he had lost all respect he had for her, and saw her more like an enemy now.

"I want to have a few things clear," Lin Meixing's eyes were determined as she looked at Xu Jingchen. "I want to share a room with my son. I do not want anyone to enter our room without my permission, including you and your servants.

"You can't tell your mother, or anyone else for that matter, that I have moved in. You can not fight me for custody of my baby, and you are not allowed to use your power in any way or form to force either of us to do anything we do not want to do.

"Jingli is to stay in this preschool. I make all decisions about his life, and if you have anything you want to do with him, you have to gain permission first."

Xu Jingchen looked deeply into Lin Meixing's eyes. While he usually saw pain and hurt when she looked at him, he noticed the tenderness and maternal love that was overflowing from her eyes, and his heart contracted. Such a gentle appearance was one he had never seen before, and his heart began beating rapidly.

"I agree." Xu Jingchen did not need to think twice before agreeing to her demands. Even if she had asked for something outrageous, he was likely to have accepted it just for the sake of having her move into his home.

Xu Jingchen sighed. He actually wanted to give her one of his credit cards, and tell her to use it as she pleased. He wanted to spoil her and pamper her, but she was likely not willing.

Lin Meixing did not care about Xu Jingchen's heartbreak. Nothing he felt could compare to the hell she had walked through. Although she would lie if she said that she had no more feelings for him, she had been stupid once. She was not going to be stupid again.

Lin Meixing glanced at Xu Jingchen. He then opened the door for her, and she exited right away, but did not even glance at him as she did so. Instead, she walked straight to the sandbox, where her little treasure was playing alongside a small girl who resembled a doll.

Although Lin Jingli did not seem very amused, his face was stoic, he was still patiently building a large sandcastle for the girl, and she was clapping her hands in excitement and happiness.

When he looked at her, Lin Meixing could see the pity in his eyes. Clearly, he felt that this little girl was actually a bit dumb. She had been asking Lin Jingli to create one sandcastle after another for her ever since the first day he came to the preschool, and no matter how many he made, she was never satisfied.

Although Lin Jingli questioned her intellect, he felt a sense of achievement whenever he managed to make her smile, and he could not help but continue to indulge her.

She was also his first friend, and he truly valued having someone of his own age around him. When he was with her, he could just be a child. This was also why he was protecting her against the bullies who wanted to pull on her pigtails, or wanted to get closer to her. He had taken her as his little follower, and thus, she had to be protected well.

Lin Meixing was rather astounded when she saw how patient her little son was, and when she saw a gentle smile surfaced on his lips, tears welled up in her eyes.

He had never been so childlike in front of her. While he was often smiling at her, and she knew that he truly loved her, he always tried to protect her, to make her proud, to share her burdens. Now he was just an innocent child who did not have to think about anything else other than playing.

When she saw him like this, Lin Meixing could not help but wonder if it was too selfish of her to be so stubborn about his custody. Would her son have a better life with Xu Jingchen?